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DJR Expert Guide Series, Vol. 367 — How to Authenticate Ancient Pottery (Slip, Temper & Firing)
Ancient pottery—from Greek red-figure vases and Roman utilitarian ware to Egyptian, Near Eastern, Pre-Columbian, Mesoamerican, Andean, and early Asian ceramics—is one of the most widely collected and most frequently forged categories in the antiquities world. Because pottery survives for millennia and is easy to replicate, distinguishing genuine archaeological artifacts from modern reproductions requires a structured, scientific approach.
DJR Expert Guide Series, Vol. 367 — How to Authenticate Ancient Pottery (Slip, Temper & Firing) provides the full professional workflow used by appraisers, archaeologists, conservators, and antiquities specialists to determine authenticity, age, cultural origin, and restoration impact.
Inside, you’ll learn how experts:
Identify clay composition, mineral inclusions, and regional clay signatures
Evaluate temper materials (organic and inorganic) to determine cultural origin
Analyze slip layers, pigment mineralogy, and ancient burnishing patterns
Distinguish true ancient firing characteristics from modern kiln coloration
Examine oxidation, reduction, mixed firing, and correct core coloration
Identify natural burial patina, mineral accretions, root etching, and soil adhesion
Detect artificial aging: chemical staining, oven-baking, smoke aging, soil treatments
Evaluate wheel-made vs. hand-built construction for cultural consistency
Analyze fracture surfaces, internal core structure, break patterns, and thermal changes
Identify ancient vs. modern restoration materials and overpaint
Assess microscopic wear, erosion, pitting, slip thinning, and surface mineral deposits
Evaluate typology—shape, iconography, decorative technique, cultural motifs
Use scientific tests: thermoluminescence (TL), petrographic analysis, XRF, spectroscopy
Determine market value factors: rarity, cultural origin, restoration level, provenance
Whether examining a Mesoamerican effigy vessel, an Egyptian jar, a Greek kylix, or a Pre-Columbian figurine, this guide provides the complete archaeological authentication system needed to separate genuine antiquities from modern reproductions.
Digital Download — PDF • 10 Pages • Instant Access
Ancient pottery—from Greek red-figure vases and Roman utilitarian ware to Egyptian, Near Eastern, Pre-Columbian, Mesoamerican, Andean, and early Asian ceramics—is one of the most widely collected and most frequently forged categories in the antiquities world. Because pottery survives for millennia and is easy to replicate, distinguishing genuine archaeological artifacts from modern reproductions requires a structured, scientific approach.
DJR Expert Guide Series, Vol. 367 — How to Authenticate Ancient Pottery (Slip, Temper & Firing) provides the full professional workflow used by appraisers, archaeologists, conservators, and antiquities specialists to determine authenticity, age, cultural origin, and restoration impact.
Inside, you’ll learn how experts:
Identify clay composition, mineral inclusions, and regional clay signatures
Evaluate temper materials (organic and inorganic) to determine cultural origin
Analyze slip layers, pigment mineralogy, and ancient burnishing patterns
Distinguish true ancient firing characteristics from modern kiln coloration
Examine oxidation, reduction, mixed firing, and correct core coloration
Identify natural burial patina, mineral accretions, root etching, and soil adhesion
Detect artificial aging: chemical staining, oven-baking, smoke aging, soil treatments
Evaluate wheel-made vs. hand-built construction for cultural consistency
Analyze fracture surfaces, internal core structure, break patterns, and thermal changes
Identify ancient vs. modern restoration materials and overpaint
Assess microscopic wear, erosion, pitting, slip thinning, and surface mineral deposits
Evaluate typology—shape, iconography, decorative technique, cultural motifs
Use scientific tests: thermoluminescence (TL), petrographic analysis, XRF, spectroscopy
Determine market value factors: rarity, cultural origin, restoration level, provenance
Whether examining a Mesoamerican effigy vessel, an Egyptian jar, a Greek kylix, or a Pre-Columbian figurine, this guide provides the complete archaeological authentication system needed to separate genuine antiquities from modern reproductions.
Digital Download — PDF • 10 Pages • Instant Access